Puma x Altogether Otherwise22 Images
In an era where traditional workspaces and social hubs are evolving, Altogether Otherwise is carving out a new kind of space in Manchester, that focuses on celebrating creativity, collaboration, and community. Founded as an answer to the increasingly blurred lines between work, art, and everyday life, the initiative offers a flexible, multidisciplinary environment where freelancers, artists, and small businesses have space to thrive.
Part creative studio, part social hub, AO also taps into the rise of “third spaces” – environments that exist beyond the confines of home and office, providing a much-needed alternative for a new generation of workers seeking connection, inspiration, and autonomy. Whether it’s through artist residencies, design-led co-working spaces, or intimate cultural events, the platform is rethinking what a communal space can be. To celebrate the launch of the newest Puma Mostro, we put out an open call with our Dazed Club community to find a photographer to head to Manchester and shoot the AO community wearing the shoes.
Below we spoke founder, Ben Young, to talk about working with Puma, the story of Altogether Otherwise and hopes for he future.
What is the story behind Altogether Otherwise? How did it first come about?
Ben Young: We have been delivering DIY community-led activity in central Manchester for a few years now. Altogether Otherwise is our most lighthearted and fun-orientated expression of this ongoing concern. We have clubs and activities every day of the week, which are almost always free and bring people together that often would not have met otherwise.
What do you think is the most exciting thing about the creative scene in Manchester right now?
Ben Young: Manchester is big enough to host global activity but it is still just about small enough to feel like a village. The creative community feels like one shared thing. And everyone’s in it for the right reasons, which often means we see some brilliant collaborations with equally brilliant outcomes.
What does community mean to you?
Ben Young: Community for us is the ongoing, evolving, unfixed shared attitude of a place. In old French, a ‘cité’ is the behaviour and outlook adopted by the people who lodge within the physical place. Community as a ‘cité works for us, and being an active citizen in our communities is more important than it’s ever been. There’s so much in modern life that pushes us down a pathway of isolation that reminding ourselves about what it is to be human feels important. People need people.
How would you describe your collective ethos to someone hoping to get involved?
Ben Young: We believe in DIY, shared endeavour and fun. It’s all about joining in.
What has been the highlight of working on AO and having the space so far?
Ben Young: We like the “WHATEVER NEXT?” attitude of the space. We just found out we will have a full orchestra playing in the space in the summer, that sort of thing is exciting. it’s often the ideas for happenings that are brought to us, rather than the things that we might come up with, that really inject the programme at AO with something extra special. There’s been some random stuff that shouldn’t have worked on paper but really has – like this Zine-swap launch with a live performance from a Sheffield-based artist and hip-hop emcee. Totally different audiences, but all the better for it.
What made collaborating with Puma on this project a great fit for you?
Ben Young: We host a lot of activities that could be considered ‘TRAD’. Pottery, weaving, gardening, etc. However, our attitude is anything but TRAD. We like to push things along a little bit, working with PUMA is a nice reminder of that.
What drew you to the Puma Mostro?
Ben Young: The Mostro took a surf shoe and a racing spike and was brave enough to combine the two. That sort of gene splicing is what Altogether Otherwise is all about, taking seemingly unrelated activities and throwing them together to make something new and exciting. It’s creativity in its purist form.
What do you hope people take away from being involved in your community?
Ben Young: We hope to inspire people to get comfortable wasting time and being bad at things. We live in a performance-orientated world, we think there is more to life than optimisation. Doing it yourself is great. Doing it together is better, but having fun is the most important thing. If people make some new mates in the process, then our job here is done.
What do you like most about the Mostro’s iconic design?
Ben Young: I like that it seems to change entirely depending on who wears it and how it’s styled. Hopefully Altogether Otherwise does the same thing. And the blue Mostro’s are right up our street. We do blue here, a lot.
What is your advice for someone who wants to create a similar project and forge their own creative space?
Ben Young: Don’t plan too much. Things never go according to plan. Build it as you go and remember that spaces are iterative, just like people. Talk to as many people as you can, as much as you can, about anything. You never know where you might end up.
What does the future of AO look like?
Ben Young: There are no firm plans yet, but we plan to launch a studio and a campsite.
Head to the gallery above to see the images by Honor Rowlands.
